Biography

Jenna Marks is an experimental and narrative filmmaker with a strong focus in animation. She graduated with her BFA from NSCAD in May of 2013 with a major in film. Her thesis film, What Happened to Esther, was featured in several festivals across Canada including the Atlantic Film Festival and Silver Wave. Directly following her graduation, Jenna was accepted into the National Film Board’s prestigious animation apprenticeship program; Hothouse, in Montreal. There she directed and animated her short entitled, Wake. The film would become a turning point in her life. She explores her past as a Canadian team athlete and world champion and the decisions she faced to leave the sport behind to pursue her new artistic dreams.

In spring of 2014 Jenna was chosen to represent Canada in Stuttgart, Germany, in their film festival’s 48-hour animation Jam. Jenna, and her co-director David Barlow-Krelina, created the film A Horse Throat, which won first prize, Vimeo staff pick and played in the international competition at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. Jenna is currently working on a short animation through Nova Scotia Communities Culture and Heritage, to be released in spring of 2015. Jenna Marks and her producer, and former NSCAD student Stephanie Young, are taking part in this year’s edition of Afcoop’s Film5 program.

Jenna is an enthusiast and hard working emerging artists who loves to share ideas. She often thinks back on when she was in high school and oblivious to the path her life could follow, and wishes that someone could have shown her earlier how great film, animation and art can be. Her passion is endless. She is an emerging artist who knows where she wants to end up, wants to inspire people along the way and will surpass even her own expectation.To see more of Jenna's work click here.